A Practical View

By William Wilberforce

William Wilberforce, best known as the driving force in Parliament that ended the slave trade in England, is concerned with convincing those who call themselves Christian to pursue "the real" nature and principles of the religion which they profess. A Practical View shows us the passion that fueled his life, and is a guide to help us move beyond being Christian in only the name.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Release date: Feb 20, 2013
• ISBN: 9781625585035

William Wilberforce

William Wilberforce (1759-1833) was an English politician and philanthropist, known for his commitment to religious and social values, including the movement to stop the slave trade. Born in Hull, Yorkshire, he became a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire in 1784. In 1785, he underwent an evangelical conversion, resolving to commit himself to the service of God. He worked tirelessly for the passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807, and the campaign that led to the Slavery Abolition Act 1833. He was also involved in the creation of the Church Mission Society, and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Reviews for A Practical View

[steve777_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The version I read, a modern translation by Bob Beltz, was rather dumbed-down, losing much of the elegance, precision and eloquence of Wiberforce's original. In retrospect, I would have preferred to read the original, even if having to pull out a dictionary now and then for the occasional archaic words.